Taking the LSAT Twice and What Law Schools See

Quick answer: taking the LSAT twice is normal, and it rarely hurts you. Many schools focus on your highest score. It makes sense if your practice tests beat your real score, and if a higher score would change your school list or scholarships.

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When a Second Test Makes Sense

Your practice scores are clearly above your real score.
Something went wrong on test day.
A few more points would pass your target school’s median or 75th percentile.
You have time before your applications go in.

What Could a Few Points Do?

Going from	Schools at or above median	Schools at or above 75th
150 to 153	14 to 40	3 to 11
155 to 158	65 to 97	23 to 58
160 to 163	112 to 135	87 to 120
165 to 168	153 to 168	137 to 162
170 to 173	179 to 192	172 to 185

Counts are from the 2025 ABA 509 data for all 196 schools.

How to Prepare Differently

Find out what went wrong, using your score report if you bought it.
Do not simply repeat the same study.
Set a clear target using what LSAT score do I need.
Take the test again only when your practice scores justify it.

Limits

You can take the LSAT 5 times in the current reportable score period and 7 times in your life. See LSAC’s limits on repeating the LSAT and how many times you can take the LSAT.

FAQ

Will law schools see both scores?

Yes. Reported scores from the period can be seen. See can law schools see every score.

Could my score go down?

Yes, it can, which is why you should wait until your practice scores are ready.

Should I write an explanation?

Only if there was a clear reason for a low score. See the guide to multiple scores.